- Enrollment
- 1,058
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Alto, MI
Alto Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Alto Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 262205005925
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 70
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Alto Elementary School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median.
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.4:1
- students per teacher
- 21.1%
- free-lunch eligible
- 417
- students enrolled
Alto Elementary School has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Lowell Area Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 262205005925 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-3 students YoY
Alto Elementary School held near 404 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-3 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 24.3 → 23.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-3 students YoY 262205005925 · Alto, MI Other · SMALL · TRAD
417 enr · 17.4:1 · 21.1% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Lowell Senior High School (1,058 students)
Alto Elementary School held near 404 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-3 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 24.3 → 23.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Alto Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lowell Senior
Lowell Senior High School
1,058 students
- Lowell Middle
Lowell Middle School
790 students
- Cherry Creek E
Cherry Creek Elementary School
485 students
- Murray Lake El
Murray Lake Elementary
433 students
- This school 417
Alto Elementary School
417 students
- Bushnell Eleme 253
Bushnell Elementary School
253 students
What this shows Alto Elementary School reports 417 students on the CCD universe file.
How Alto Elementary School compares
Alto Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.4:1 | ▼ 1% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 21.1% | ▼ 61% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 417 | top 39% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.4:1
Leaner classes than 28% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
417
Bigger than 50% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
21.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 61% below the Michigan average of 54.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17.4:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 57% in Michigan - lower ratio than 43% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
12.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$13,907
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $15,012
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 90.6%
Hispanic or Latino 4.6%
Two or More 4.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 90.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 17.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 17.5, Alto Elementary School is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Lowell Area Schools reports $13,907 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Alto Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowell Senior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lowell Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cherry Creek Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Murray Lake Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Bushnell Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Alto Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 790
- Students per teacher
- 18.8:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 485
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 433
- Students per teacher
- 18.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 253
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~417 students)
Frequently asked questions about Alto Elementary School
How many students attend Alto Elementary School?
Alto Elementary School has 417 students enrolled. It is a public school in Alto, MI. CCD year-over-year: 407 (2022-23) → 404 (2023-24), nearly flat (-3).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Alto Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Alto Elementary School is 17.4:1, which is 1% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 11% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Alto Elementary School?
21.1% of students at Alto Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Alto Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Alto Elementary School is White at 90.6% of enrollment, in Alto, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Alto Elementary School?
Alto Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
What other schools are in Lowell Area Schools?
Besides Alto Elementary School, Lowell Area Schools also operates Lowell Senior High School (1,058 students), Lowell Middle School (790 students), and Cherry Creek Elementary School (485 students). See the Lowell Area Schools district page for the complete list.